Umbrella

ABSTRACT

An umbrella includes an elongate stem, a notch with an insert portion for insertion into a concavity in a top edge wall of the stem, a canopy mounted on a mounting portion of the notch, and a rib assembly pivotally mounted to the mounting portion for supporting the canopy. A tubular runner is slidably sleeved on the stem and is movable between upper and lower positions for spreading and collapsing the canopy. A stretcher assembly is disposed to stretch or retract the rib assembly. The rib assembly can be brought into close proximity of the stem after retraction, thereby resulting in a compact size of the umbrella for convenient storage and carrying.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] This invention relates to an umbrella, more particularly to anumbrella with a notch which has an insert portion for insertion of atubular upper end portion of a stem thereof.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a conventional umbrella is shown toinclude an elongate stem 1 and a runner 3 which is sleeved slidably onthe stem 1 to connect pivotally with a stretch assembly 5 for supportinga rib assembly 4. A notch 2 includes a sleeve portion 202 which issleeved on an upper end of the stem 1, and a mounting portion 203 forpivotally connecting a plurality of ribs 401 of the rib assembly 4. Therunner 3 is movable between an upper position for stretching the ribassembly 4 and a lower position for collapsing the same. A pair ofresilient tongue members 201 are fixed on the mounting portion 203, andhave hook ends that are retainable in slots 301 formed in the runner 3when the runner 3 is moved to the upper position so as to retain therunner 3 in the upper position.

[0005] Although such engagement of the tongue members 201 and the slots301 can prevent injury to the user during the collapsing operation, theribs 401 cannot be disposed close to the stem 1 due to the thickness ofthe sleeved portion 202 after being collapsed, as shown in FIG.2,thereby resulting in inconvenient carrying and storage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The object of the present invention is to provide an umbrella inwhich ribs can be brought into close proximity of a stem after beingcollapsed so as to facilitate storage and carrying.

[0007] According to this invention, the umbrella includes an elongatestem extending along an axis, and having a tubular upper end portion anda lower end portion opposite to each other along the axis. The upper endportion has a surrounding top edge wall which confines a concavity. Anotch member includes an insert portion inserted into the concavityalong the axis, a mounting portion which extends from the insert portionalong the axis, which extends radially and outwardly relative to theaxis, and which has an outer diameter larger than that of the insertportion, and a shoulder portion which is formed between the insert andmounting portions and which is disposed close to the top edge wall whenthe insert portion is inserted into the concavity. The mounting portionhas an outer surrounding wall which surrounds the axis and which has aplurality of recesses that are angularly displaced from one another. Acanopy is mounted securely on the mounting portion by means of a capmember. A rib assembly includes a plurality of ribs which have proximaterib ends that are respectively disposed in the recesses, and distal ribends disposed at an underside of the canopy to support the canopy in aspread-out position and in a collapsed position. A tubular runner isslidably sleeved on the stem, and has upper and lower runner endportions that are respectively proximate to and distal from the notchmember. The runner is movable between upper and lower positions whichcorrespond respectively to the spread-out and collapsed positions of thecanopy. A stretcher assembly is disposed to interconnect the ribassembly and the upper runner end portion so as to stretch or retractthe rib assembly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] Other features and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent in the following detailed description of the preferredembodiment of the invention, with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

[0009]FIG. 1 is a fragmentary schematic view of a conventional umbrella;

[0010]FIG. 2 is a fragmentary schematic view of a notch of theconventional umbrella;

[0011]FIG. 3 is a fragmentary schematic view of a preferred embodimentof an umbrella according to this invention when folded;

[0012]FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the preferred embodimentin part;

[0013]FIG. 5 is a fragmentary schematic view of the preferred embodimentin a spread-out state;

[0014]FIG. 6 is a partly sectional view showing a runner fastener; and

[0015]FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing a portion of the preferredembodiment in a collapsed state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0016] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the preferred embodiment of anumbrella according to the present invention is shown to comprise anelongate stem 10, a notch member 20, a cap member 70, a rib assembly 40,a canopy 60, a tubular runner 30, a stretcher assembly 50, and a runnerfastener.

[0017] The elongate stem 10 extends along an axis, and has a tubularupper end portion 11 and a lower end portion 12 opposite to each otheralong the axis. The upper end portion 11 has a surrounding top edge wall111 which has outer and inner peripheries 112, 113 opposite to eachother in radial directions relative to the axis, an inner surroundingwall surface 114 that extends from the inner periphery 113 along theaxis toward the lower end portion 12 to confine a concavity 115, and anouter surrounding wall surface 116 which extends from the outerperiphery along the axis toward the lower end portion 12 to surround theinner surrounding wall surface 114.

[0018] The notch member 20 includes an insert portion 22 which isinsertable into the concavity 115 along the axis via the inner periphery113, a mounting portion 21 which extends from the insert portion 22along the axis, which extends radially and outwardly relative to theaxis, and which has an outer diameter larger than that of the insertportion 22, and a shoulder portion 23 which is formed between the insertand mounting portions 22, 21 and which abuts against the top edge wall111 when the insert portion 22 is inserted into the concavity 115. Withfurther reference to FIG. 7, a fastening pin 24 extends through theinsert portion 22 and the stem 10 along a radial direction relative tothe axis so as to secure the insert portion 22 to the stem 10. Themounting portion 21 has an outer surrounding wall 213 which surroundsthe axis and which has a plurality of recesses 214 that are angularlydisplaced from one another. Each recess 214 extends radially andinwardly relative to the axis to terminate at an inner surface 215 thatis substantially flush with the outer periphery 112 of the top edge wall111 of the stem 10. A screw hole 212 is formed in the mounting portion21.

[0019] The canopy 60 is mounted on the mounting portion 21. The capmember 70 has a screw bolt 71 which engages threadedly the screw hole212 to clamp securely the canopy 60 between the cap member 70 and themounting portion 21.

[0020] The rib assembly 40 includes a plurality of ribs 41, each ofwhich has a proximate rib end 411 that is disposed in a respective oneof the recesses 214, and a distal rib end that extends from theproximate rib end 411 radial to the axis and that is disposed at anunderside of the canopy 60 to support the canopy 60 in a spread-outposition and in a collapsed position.

[0021] The tubular runner 30 is slidably sleeved on the stem 10, and hasupper and lower runner end portions 32, 33 that are respectivelyproximate to and distal from the notch member 20. The runner 30 furtherhas a tubular inner wall surface 34 which is disposed to be in slidablecontact with the outer surrounding wall surface 116 of the upper endportion 11 of the stem 10 between upper and lower positions thatcorrespond respectively to the spread-out position and the collapsedposition of the canopy 60, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 3, and a tubularouter wall surface 36 which is opposite to the tubular inner wallsurface 34. The tubular inner wall surface 34 defines a pair ofguideways 35, each of which extends from the upper runner end portion 32towards the lower runner end portion 33 and each of which is radiallyspaced apart from the outer surrounding wall surface 116 of the upperend portion 11 of the stem 10.

[0022] The stretcher assembly 50 is disposed to interconnect the ribassembly 40 and the upper runner end portion 32 of the runner 30 so asto stretch or retract the rib assembly 40, thereby placing the canopy 60in the spread-out position or the collapsed position when the runner 30is moved to the upper position or the lower position, respectively.

[0023] With reference to FIG. 6, the runner fastener includes a pair ofresilient tongue members 25, each of which has a fixed end that is fixedto the shoulder portion 23 of the notch member 20, and a hook end 251which extends toward the lower end portion 11 of the stem 10. The hookends 251 of the tongue members 25 are biased away from the stem 10 in alateral and transverse direction relative to the axis. The runnerfastener further includes a pair of slots 31 formed in the tubular outerwall surface 36 of the runner 30. Each slot 31 extends radially andinwardly towards the tubular inner wall surface 34 and communicates withthe respective one of the guideways 35. When the runner 30 is movedupwardly by manual force to the upper position for spreading the canopy60, the guideways 35 engage the hook ends 251 of the tongue members 25against the biasing action of the tongue members 25. Sequentially, thehook ends 251 project out of the slots 31 by means of the resilientforces of the tongue members 25 and are retained therein.

[0024] When it is desired to collapse the umbrella, the hook ends 251 ofthe tongue members 25 are pressed inwardly so as to disengage from theslots 31. As shown in FIG. 7, since the notch member 20 is connected tothe stem 10 in such a manner that the insert portion 22 is inserted intothe concavity 115, and since the inner surfaces 215 of the mountingportions 21 are substantially flush with the outer periphery 112 of theupper end portion 11 of the stem 10, the ribs 41 can be disposed closeto the stem 10 after the collapsing operation, thereby resulting in acompact size of the umbrella to facilitate storage and carrying. Inaddition, the user usually grasps the runner 30 during the collapsingoperation, thereby preventing injury to the user.

[0025] While the present invention has been described in connection withwhat is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it isunderstood that this invention is not limited to the disclosedembodiment but is intended to cover various arrangements included withinthe spirit and scope of the broadest interpretations and equivalentarrangements.

I claim:
 1. An umbrella comprising: an elongate stem extending along anaxis, and having a tubular upper end portion and a lower end portionopposite to each other along the axis, said upper end portion having asurrounding top edge wall which has outer and inner peripheries oppositeto each other in radial directions relative to the axis, and an innersurrounding wall surface which extends from said inner periphery alongthe axis toward said lower end portion to confine a concavity; a notchmember including an insert portion which is configured to be insertedinto said concavity along the axis via said inner periphery, a mountingportion which extends from said insert portion along the axis, whichextends radially and outwardly relative to the axis, and which has anouter diameter larger than that of said insert portion, and a shoulderportion which is formed between said insert and mounting portions andwhich is disposed close to said top edge wall when said insert portionis inserted into said concavity, said mounting portion having an outersurrounding wall which surrounds the axis and which has a plurality ofrecesses that are angularly displaced from one another, each of saidrecesses extending radially and inwardly relative to the axis toterminate at an inner surface; a canopy mounted on said mountingportion; a cap member disposed to fasten said canopy to said mountingportion; a rib assembly including a plurality of ribs, each of which hasa proximate rib end that is disposed in a respective one of saidrecesses, and a distal rib end that extends from said proximate rib endradial to the axis and that is disposed at an underside of said canopyto support said canopy in a spread-out position and in a collapsedposition; a tubular runner slidably sleeved on said stem, and havingupper and lower runner end portions respectively proximate to and distalfrom said notch member, said runner being movable between upper andlower positions which correspond respectively to the spread-out andcollapsed positions of said canopy; and a stretcher assembly disposed tointerconnect said rib assembly and said upper runner end portion so asto stretch or retract said rib assembly, thereby bringing said canopy inthe spread-out position or the collapsed position when said runner ismoved to the upper position or the lower position, respectively.
 2. Theumbrella of claim 1, wherein said shoulder portion of said notch memberabuts against said top edge wall when said insert portion is insertedinto said concavity, said inner surface of said mounting portion beingsubstantially flush with said outer periphery.
 3. The umbrella of claim1, further comprising a resilient tongue member which has a fixed endfixed to said shoulder portion of said notch member, and a hook endextending toward said lower end portion of said stem when said insertportion is inserted into said concavity, said hook end being biased awayfrom said stem in a lateral and transverse direction relative to theaxis, and wherein said stem has an outer surrounding wall surface whichextends from said outer periphery along the axis toward said lower endportion to surround said inner surrounding wall surface, said runnerincluding a tubular inner wall surface which is disposed in slidablecontact with said outer surrounding wall surface of said stem, saidtubular inner wall surface defining a guideway which extends from saidupper runner end portion towards said lower runner end portion and whichis radially spaced apart from said outer surrounding wall surface so asto receive said tongue member therein, said runner further including atubular outer wall surface which is opposite to said tubular inner wallsurface and which has a slot that extends radially and inwardly towardssaid tubular inner wall surface and that communicates with said guidewayat such a position that said hook end will be biased to protrude and beretained in said slot once said tongue member is forced into saidguideway.
 4. The umbrella of claim 1, wherein said cap member engagesthreadedly said mounting portion of said notch member so as to clampsaid canopy therebetween.
 5. The umbrella of claim 1, further comprisinga fastening pin extending through said insert portion and said stemalong a radial direction relative to the axis so as to secure saidinsert portion to said stem.
 6. An umbrella comprising: an elongate stemextending along an axis, and having a tubular upper end portion and alower end portion opposite to each other along the axis, said upper endportion having a surrounding top edge wall which has outer and innerperipheries opposite to each other in radial directions relative to theaxis, an inner surrounding wall surface which extends from said innerperiphery along the axis toward said lower end portion to confine aconcavity, and an outer surrounding wall surface which extends from saidouter periphery along the axis toward said lower end portion to surroundsaid inner surrounding wall surface; a notch member including an insertportion which is configured to be inserted into said concavity along theaxis via said inner periphery, a mounting portion which extends fromsaid insert portion along the axis, which extends radially and outwardlyrelative to the axis, and which has an outer diameter larger than thatof said insert portion, and a shoulder portion which is formed betweensaid insert and mounting portions and which is disposed close to saidtop edge wall when said insert portion is inserted into said concavity,said mounting portion having an outer surrounding wall which surroundsthe axis and which has a plurality of recesses that are angularlydisplaced from one another, each of said recesses extending radially andinwardly relative to the axis to terminate at an inner surface; a canopymounted on said mounting portion; a cap member disposed to fasten saidcanopy to said mounting portion; a rib assembly including a plurality ofribs, each of which has a proximate rib end that is disposed in arespective one of said recesses, and a distal rib end that extends fromsaid proximate rib end radial to the axis and that is disposed at anunderside of said canopy to support said canopy in a spread-out positionand in a collapsed position; a tubular runner slidably sleeved on saidstem, and having upper and lower runner end portions respectivelyproximate to and distal from said notch member, said runner furtherhaving a tubular inner wall surface which is disposed in slidablecontact with said outer surrounding wall surface of said stem betweenupper and lower positions which correspond respectively to thespread-out and collapsed positions of said canopy, said tubular innerwall surface defining a guideway which extends from said upper runnerend portion towards said lower runner end portion and which is radiallyspaced apart from said outer surrounding wall surface of said stem; astretcher assembly disposed to interconnect said rib assembly and saidupper runner end portion so as to stretch or retract said rib assembly,thereby bringing said canopy in the spread-out position or the collapsedposition when said runner is moved to the upper position or the lowerposition, respectively; and a resilient tongue member having a fixed endwhich is fixed to said shoulder portion of said notch member, and a hookend which extends toward said lower end portion of said stem when saidinsert portion is inserted into said concavity, said hook end beingbiased away from said stem in a lateral and transverse directionrelative to the axis such that upward movement of said runner to theupper position by manual force permits said tongue member to slide alongsaid guideway against biasing action of said tongue member.
 7. Theumbrella of claim 6, wherein said shoulder portion of said notch memberabuts against said top edge wall when said insert portion is insertedinto said concavity, said inner surface of said mounting portion beingsubstantially flush with said outer periphery.
 8. The umbrella of claim6, wherein said runner further includes a tubular outer wall surfacewhich is opposite to said tubular inner wall surface and which has aslot that extends radially and inwardly towards said tubular inner wallsurface and that communicates with said guideway at such a position thatsaid hook end will be biased to protrude into and to be retained in saidslot once said tongue member is forced into said guideway.